"Ted Cruz is spellbinding, a tremendous orator and principled," Santorum said on Glenn Beck's radio show, according to a transcript. "Understands these issues at his core. We need people who can motivate and lead. Ted has that capability."

Cruz is the leading challenger against Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the open Senate seat to replace retiring Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

The two candidates top a crowded field of Senate hopefuls that also includes former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and ESPN broadcaster Craig James.

With less than a week before the May 29 primary, polls show Cruz gaining ground on Dewhurst in recent weeks. Dewhurst needs to capture at least 50% of the vote in next week's contest in order to avoid a run-off.

A former solicitor general, Cruz has strong tea party backing in the state, as well as support from national conservative groups, such as FreedomWorks and Club for Growth.

Sarah Palin also endorsed Cruz earlier this month and recorded a robo call for the candidate, a move the campaign said gave Cruz a "huge surge" in the race.

Dewhurst, meanwhile, released ads in the last week featuring Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former presidential candidate and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

"Plenty of candidates say they're conservative," Huckabee says in the latest TV ad. "But the only proven conservative in this Senate race is David Dewhurst."

With high name recognition and establishment support, the lieutenant governor has outraised and outspent his opponents.

- CNN National Political Correspondent Jim Acosta contributed to this report.

soundoff(10 Responses)

Ozzie

If you're for him, I'm against him, Righteous Ricky.

May 24, 2012 01:02 pm at 1:02 pm |

Rudy NYC

Did you notice that Cruz has no political experience worth mentioning, he's backed by Freedomworks and Club for Growth, all of which adds up to one thing. The man will be another Tea Party drone in the Congress, not wanting to compromise on anything that would serve the common good.

May 24, 2012 01:05 pm at 1:05 pm |

cali girl

Who is this guy?

May 24, 2012 01:08 pm at 1:08 pm |

coy4one

Dewhurst is running on the memory of his father. Seems like every ad is about his Dad's military service. Then he goes on to say that the next generation "is putting us into bankruptcy." What's so funny is that David Dewhurst IS THE NEXT GENERATION! I guess he didn't think about that.

May 24, 2012 01:21 pm at 1:21 pm |

Lynda/Minnesota

"Ted Cruz is spellbinding, a tremendous orator and principled," Santorum said on Glenn Beck's radio show, according to a transcript."

Oh, dear. Glen Beck is still on the air? And people actually tune in and listen to him? Yuck.

May 24, 2012 01:25 pm at 1:25 pm |

Ancient Texan

Dewhurst is the conservative in the race, Cruz is the Tea Party candidate, but most of us have never heard of him.

May 24, 2012 01:53 pm at 1:53 pm |

Mark in Seattle

This Cruz guy just got Santorum on himself.

May 24, 2012 02:00 pm at 2:00 pm |

Norm

Santorum on Glenn Beck.....enough said..

May 24, 2012 02:16 pm at 2:16 pm |

Louis in Wisc.

This endorsement will make a difference how any person crazy enough to care what Rick says was going to vote for him anyways. That's why endorsements mean 0 unless somebody switches parties and makes one then it might matter.

May 24, 2012 02:25 pm at 2:25 pm |

stranger in an increasingly strange land

Cruz is another minority in name only that the Republicans trot out when they want to show they are inclusive. The fact that among his big backers are the Koch Brothers should throw up red flags for everyone. Cruz has a Cuban Father and American mother but is Canadian by birth. Cruz's father fought for Fidel Castro during the revolution in Cuba, but fell out with him when Castro embraced Communism.
Cruz was pro business and anti middle class and poor when he was the Solisitor General in Texas. As with most Republicans he believes that the best way to help the country is to give more money to the rich and keep the middle class and poor in their place.